'Take decisive action at a senior level'

Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson refuses to let go of the Iowa caucuses, calling on Ted Cruz – who recently apologized for staffers who inaccurately represented the former neurosurgeon as dropping out of the race – to punish somebody who holds a leading role on his campaign.

"I call on Senator Cruz to take decisive action at a senior level within his campaign or I fear this culture of destructive behavior will only continue," Carson said, in an email to raise money for his campaign, the Hill reported.

The dispute between Carson and Cruz took an even nastier tone after Breitbart News published a voicemail message a Cruz precinct captain received in Iowa, on the eve of the caucuses, that said: "Tell any Ben Carson voters that for tonight ... that they not waste a vote on Ben Carson and vote for Ted Cruz."

Another voicemail stated Carson was suspending his campaign, and both came after the candidate made clear he was only returning to Florida for a brief visit, but not to drop out of the race, the Hill reported.